Valve mechanism



Aug. 18, 1964 H. c. KAPPEL VALVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 28, 1961 UnitedStates Patent 3,145,011 VALVE MECHANISM Henry C. Kappel, Elmhurst, 111.,assignor to The Uni giaive Corporation, Frantriin Park, 11]., acorporation of more Filed Sept. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 141,414 3 Claims. Cl.251-349) This invention relates to a valve of the aerosol type and moreparticularly to a mechanism which will permit a normally reciprocallyoperable aerosol valve to be held permanently open without continuedapplication of pressure by an operator.

Aerosol valves such as are disclosed in the patents to Loven et al.2,582,262 and Green 2,709,111 are used to control the discharge of avariety of materials held in a container under gas pressure. Normallydischarge is accomplished by depressing the valve, whereby the contentsof the container, under the influence of gas entrapped or absorbed, isforced out through the valve and an associated nozzle as a fine spray ormist. Such valves are positioned at the top of the container and areusually held in the closed position by a spring. The valve is opened bypressing downwardly on the nozzle against the action of the spring. Aslong as downward pressure is maintained on the nozzle the valve willremain open. Release of pressure will cause the valve to immediatelyreturn to its closed position.

A valve action of the foregoing type is satisfactory for most useswherein aerosol dispensers are required. However, such valves requireconstant application of pres sure by an operator to maintain dischargeas there is normally no provision for permitting the valve to remainopen upon release of pressure to provide continuous discharge. For someapplications, such as paint spraying and the like, it may beadvantageous to have a valve which can be temporarily placed in apermanently open position and retained in this position withoutcontinuing pressure by an operator and which may be returned to itsnormal method of operation.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention toprovide an aerosol valve which is operable in the normal manner byapplication and release of pressure or which, alternately, may be placedin a permanently open position at the option of an operator.

Another object is to provide a valve mechanism of the foregoing typewhich is relatively simple in design and which may be manufactured at acompetitive cost.

A further object is to provide a valve mechanism as described whichlends itself to rapid assembly and large volume production methods.

These and other objects Will become more apparent from the furtherdisclosure of the details of the invention hereinafter.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partial vertical section of an aerosol dispenser providedwith a valve of the type contemplated herein showing the valve in closedposition.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section of the valve assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a section, taken along line 33 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial elevation, partly in section, of the valve stemcomprising a part of the valve assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a plan of the underside of the valve stem of FIGURE 4.

Turning now to the drawing the numeral 1 indicates a container adaptedto hold a material to be dispensed as an aerosol spray. The container isprovided with a closure or top 2 which normally includes a peripheralflange 3 for supporting and uniting the top with the container.

Top 2, as shown, may be so designed as to extend downwardly into thecontainer with an upwardly extending centrally disposed portion 4, whichis adapted to hold the valve assembly, designated generally by thenumeral 5. The sides of the central portion 4 of the top are shown asbeing indented inwardly as at 6 to provide support for the valveassembly as further described hereinafter.

Valve assembly 5 includes a valve housing 7 having a downwardlyprojecting tubular extension 8 to which may be attached an eductiontube, not shown. The upper or open end of housing '7 is provided with aperipheral flange 9. The underside of flange 9 is supported on theindentation 6, thereby positioning the valve housing within the centralportion 4 of the top 2.

Extending across the top of the open end of the housing 7 is a gasket11) which serves to form a fluid tight chamber within the housing 7beneath the gasket. The gasket should be formed from a suitablenon-permeable material such as neoprene or the like.

The upper section 12 of the central portion 4 of the top may be deformedinwardly over the gasket, as shown, to hold the gasket and,correspondingly, the valve assembly in position. While such anarrangement frequently offers advantages from a manufacturing andassembly standpoint alternate means may be used. For example, a separatecup-like retainer may be employed extending over the top of the gasketand then downwardly along the sides of central portion 4 of the top,with an indentation conforming with indentation 6 to lock the retainerin position.

Disposed within housing 7 is a valve 14, adapted to be actuated tocontrol discharge of the contents of the container. The valve iscomposed of a base 15 having an upstanding circular flange or wall 16formed integrally with the base and defining a cavity, the upper surfaceof base 15 forming the bottom of the cavity. When the valve is in closedposition the upper edge 17 of the flange 16 is adapted to be forcedagainst the underside or inner face of gasket ltl closing the cavity andproviding a fluid-tight seal to prevent egress of the containercontents.

Centrally disposed on the top of the base 15 and within the confines ofwall 16 is an upwardly projecting guide 18 adapted to assist inpositioning the tubular valve stem 19 further referred to hereinafter.Extending outwardly from the bottom of the guide 18 across the top ofbase 15 are a plurality of projections 29. Depending from the bottom ofthe valve base 15 is a circular flange or wall 21 adapted to retain andposition a spring 22. Spring 22 extends between the bottom of the valvehousing and the underside of the valve base 15 and serves to normallyurge the valve 14 into a closed position. Preferably the valve is madefrom a suitable plastic whereby all parts thereof as described areformed as an integral unit in a single molding operation.

The tubular valve stem 19 extends from within the chamber of the valvehousing, upwardly through gasket 10 and projects above the container.Gasket 10 is so dimensioned that it forms a tight seal around the sidesof stem 19 while permitting the stem to be reciprocally operated.Disposed at the top of the stem 19 is a nozzle 25 which serves to directthe contents of the con tainer 1 when forced through the valve and stem,under influence of the pressure within the container when the valve isopen. As is perhaps best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the lower part of thestem 19, which is normally positioned within the valve housing chamber,is enlarged as at 26 forming a shoulder 27. Depending from the bottomedge 28 of the lower enlarged part 26 of the stem are a plurality ofspaced extensions or cams 29, preferably having a curvilinearconfiguration. At least two such extensions are required.

When the valve components have been assembled and the assembly installedin position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the shoulder 27 is adapted tobe pressed against the underside of the gasket by reason of the actionof spring 22. Extensions 29, for normal operation, are adapted to reston the top of base between projections 20. The dimension of circularflange 16 is such that its peripheral edge likewise is in sealed contactwith the underside of gasket 10.

In the above normal position of the various components of the valveassembly, downward pressure on nozzle 25 will be transmitted throughstem 19 to valve 14. This action forces the valve downwardly against theaction of spring 22 and opens a gap between the top 17 of flange 16 andthe underside of gasket 10. Shoulder 27 will also be forced downwardlyaway from the underside of gasket 10, however, the sides of the stem 19are nevertheless sealed by gasket 10 which is designed so as to providea close fit with the stem. When the valve is thus opened the contents ofthe container are permitted to pass over the edge 17 of valve flange 16,then downwardlyand upwardly beneath lower edge 28 of the valve stembetween extensions 29 and into valve stem 19 for discharge as a sprayfrom nozzle 25. Release of downward pressure on nozzle 25 will permitthe valve to return to its normally closed position.

The foregoing operation of opening and closing the valve is similar tothe operation used in many aerosol valves. However, the presentinvention provides a means for opening the valve and maintaining it openfor an indefinite period even though there is no downward pressureapplied to hold the valve open as is normally required. The particularimprovement resides primarily in the use of the curvilinear extensions29 forming a part of the lower edge of the valve stem in combinationwith the projections disposed on the upper surface of the valve base 15.

As indicated, in the normal position of the valve components theextensions 29 are disposed between projections 20 and rest on the uppersurface of the valve base. However, the stem 19 is constructed andassembled with the other valve components of the valve assembly in sucha manner that it may be rotated. When the stem 19 is thus rotated undersufficient force, the curvilinear extensions 29 ride up onto the topprojections 20. The width of projections 20 should be such that theirupper surface will adequately support the stem in the new position whenthe extensions are forced onto the top surface of the projections.Normally the spring 22 is used to prevent corresponding rotation ofvalve 14 when the stem 19 is rotated. This is usually accomplished byproviding appropriate abutments at the bottom of the housing 7 and theunderside of base 15 which cooperate with the spring ends to preventrotation of the valve. As will be readily understood, any alternatemeans may be likewise employed.

The action of rotating the stem and moving the curvilinear extensionsonto the top of the projections 20 forces the valve 14 downwardlyagainst the action of spring 22 with shoulder 27 remaining in contactwith gasket 10, whereby the seal between edge 17 of flange 16 and theunderside of gasket 10 is broken. This posi tion of the stem serves tohold the valve permanently open, even though there is no downwardpressure applied to nozzle 25 in the usual manner. Discharge of thecontainer contents is accomplished through the same path as previouslydescribed.

As long as the extensions 29 are resting on the top of projections 20,the valve will remain open. To close the valve the stem is rotatedbackward or forward such that the curvilinear extensions 29 are forcedoff of the projections 20 permitting the spring to push the valve flange16 upward and against the underside of the gasket.

As can be seen the projections 20, in effect, form a series ofdepressions and elevations in the upper surface of the valve base 15.The same result may be obtained by forming a series of recesses in thebase to provide similar raised areas for coaction with extensions 29.

The present invention permits a dual action aerosol valve therebyenhancing the utility of such valves and permitting greater flexibilityand use under a variety of conditions.

1 claim:

1. In a valve assembly:

an open top valve housing;

a gasket closing said top;

a valve reciprocable in the housing, said valve having a wall providedwith a continuous terminal edge and defining a cavity having a bottom;

resilient means in the housing yieldably biasing the valve toward oneend of its path of travel with said edge engaging the inner face of saidgasket, closing the cavity;

a tubular stem in said chamber and extending through the gasket, saidstern having means engaging said face;

a projection on said bottom within the cavity; and

means on the stem disposed for engagement with the projection uponrotation of the stem to shift the valve against the action of saidresilient means and thereby unseat said edge from the gasket.

2. The invention of claim 1, said means on the stern having a camsurface engageable with the projection.

3. The invention of claim 1, said stern having an edge proximal to saidbottom, said means on the stern comprising an extension from said edgehaving an arcuate surface engageable with the projection upon rotationof the stem, said surface normally engaging said bottom, presenting aspace between said bottom and said edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS900,102 Kessler Oct. 6, 1908 2,582,262 Loven et al. Jan. 15, 19522,689,768 Falligant Sept. 21, 1954 2,757,964 Both et al. Aug. 7, 19562,841,443 Seacrist July 1, 1958 2,900,114 Utz Aug. 18, 1959 2,938,673Allanbaugh May 31, 1960

1. IN A VALVE ASSEMBLY: AN OPEN TOP VALVE HOUSING; A GASKET CLOSING SAIDTOP; A VALVE RECIPROCABLE IN THE HOUSING, SAID VALVE HAVING A WALLPROVIDED WITH A CONTINUOUS TERMINAL EDGE AND DEFINING A CAVITY HAVING ABOTTOM; RESILIENT MEANS IN THE HOUSING YIELDABLY BIASING THE VALVETOWARD ONE END OF ITS PATH OF TRAVEL WITH SAID EDGE ENGAGING THE INNERFACE OF SAID GASKET, CLOSING THE CAVITY;